Perhaps a better pic

This is the St Angeau Little Owl

some relief from the sun

I've not seen a swift for a few days so perhaps they have finally gone.

Hot weather is not very conducive to birding and it is refreshing to get some rain and a temperature drop today. During the last very hot week I have mainly been out and about in the early morning or late evening and on Sunday I saw one, and heard perhaps another two, stone curlews at about 10.30 pm on the Lairiere plains. The number of quail which were calling was in double figures.

The little owl was showing well at Le Chatenet today and probably enjoying the light rain.

I became a grandad for the first time today but I hope it doesn't slow me down.

Back in The Charente

Well it's good to be back in spacious Charente after a month or so spent largely at a desk on the Isle of Wight.

While I was away, Stella managed to see a little bustard close to Bresdon on the border with Charente Maritime so this dwindling species has not quite disappeared from the departement.

I've had no such look since I've been back but there there seem to be plenty of other species about so here's a quick update.

I have managed to catch up on three new species for 2010:

I saw 2 little owls on the same morning, one behind St Angeau church and another at Le Chatenet.

A lesser spotted woodpecker was in the Bonnieure valley and a female red backed shrike was near La Ta Tache.

A solitary black headed gull flew southward on Wed, an unusual sight for this time of year.

Orioles are still in abundance.

A pair of woodlark seemed to have a nest in the Bonnieure valley judging by the noise they made

A spotted flycatcher was also there.

Swifts and turtle doves are very much in evidence, preparing for the return migration.

Several black kite and at least one red kite were together above recently harvested fields near Aigre.

Harriers seem sparse and I heard only one quail on the Lairiere plains yesterday.

A green woodpecker is visiting the garden.

Melodious warblers are noisily everywhere.